RELATIVES of residents in a Jewish old people's home fear they could be made homeless after the owners admitted a £70,000 debt could see it close.

Newlands Residential Home, on Tetlow Lane, Higher Broughton, which is run by the Greater Manchester Jewish Housing Association, provides full-time care and specialist Jewish requirements such as Kosher cooking. If new owners are not found its 21 residents may be turfed out by November.

Jacob Misrahi, 78, who lives at the home and suffers from both emphysema and heart failure said: "It's terrible news. I'm disgusted.

"They could have done something sooner, why tell us at the last minute? I'm happy here but very sad I'll have to leave. The place is beautiful, I'm very comfortable here and now I have to move again.

"I'm worried, where else will I go? I've got friends here and the staff really look after us all. You can't just get that anywhere."

His daughter, 49-year-old Rosalyn Morris, said: "I fear for my father if he's moved. This could have a devastating effect. Why should my dad be turfed out of his home? To give us no warning is diabolical - it's inhumane."

The association's chief executive David Helman confirmed the home had financial difficulties. He said: "We have had an ongoing deficit over the last three years. It's got to the point where we can't allow it to continue any longer. If we don't take action this will bring the whole of the housing association down.

"We're optimistic Newlands may be sold as a going concern. We're in negotiations. If there's an offer on the table the home won't close. Should we not get an offer we'll be closing towards the end of November."

Should the home close, more than 20 jobs would be at risk.

Entertainments manager Martin Mann, 67, of Westfield Street, Higher Broughton said: "I have worked here for seven years and I don't know if I'll have a job much longer.

"The staff don't know where they stand either and it's hard to bear. This is a happy home. As soon as you walk into it, you hear music and you see smiling faces. They are going to take that all away without a fight."

Entertainment at the home includes traditional music.

Any takeover by a non-Jewish company might not ensure this and Kosher food continues.